Over half of the surviving mountain gorillas in the wild live in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, which is reached by bwindi gorilla trekking trips. The Uganda gorillas are a big draw; so, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is a perfect location for those who enjoy nature most of all.By far the best gorilla trekking trip location available worldwide.
On their guided hikes to see Bwindi gorillas in the wild regardless of their habitats, visitors go throughout thick and rich forest jungles. This gorilla encounter is fantastic and helps to enhance the development of the nearby towns and protection of mountain gorillas. Our Bwindi gorilla trips provide the ideal chance for you to merge with the surroundings, protect gorillas, and create personal memories in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
“The more you learn about the dignity of the gorilla, the more you want to avoid people.”
― Dian Fossey
With the Mountain Gorillas as their main attraction, this is Uganda’s most well-known tourist spot. Located in the districts of Kanungu, Rubanda, and Kisoro in southwest Uganda, this national park
Declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1994 in order to preserve the rich ecosystems and biodiversity of the area were Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Rwenzori National Park.
Covering over 321 sq km, the park safeguards several vegetation covers including bushes, Bamboo, and tropical rain-forests.
The park includes 120 distinct mammal species, some of which are hardly seen given the forest’s topography and thickness.
Among the mammals of Bwindi are enormous forest hogs, duikers, forest buffaloes, forest elephants, and so forth.
Bwindi boasts 11 species of primates overall; the Mountain Gorillas being the main draw, followed by Chimpanzees, Baboons, Black and White Colobus monkeys, among others.
Among Uganda’s top birding sites, the woodland boasts a cumulative count of more than 350 species.
With 24 Albertine Rift Valley endemics ranging in species not known anywhere else in Uganda, the park hosts
Along with Mubwindi Swamp in the southern portion of the park, bird viewing in Bwindi mostly occurs in the “Neck” section linking Buhoma area to Ruhija.
Among other highly sought-after bird species are Shelley’s Crimson-wing, attractive francolin, and royal sunbird.
The park boasts over 200 butterfly species, 27 kinds of Amphibians with 11 unique to that area, 14 different snake species, and 14 different types of lizards.
Approaching Bwindi Impenetrable National Park from Kigali Itinerary 3-Day Gorilla Tour
View of the Impenetrable Forest in Bwindi
Depending on where you are coming from and which area you intend to hike the mountain gorillas, there are many roads leading you to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
From Kampala, the easiest way is via Masaka to Mbarara to Kabale; here you will branch off to your particular area and the entire driving trip will take you roughly 8 to 10 hours.
Ishasha road allows one to also reach Bwindi Impenetrable National Park from Queen Elizabeth National Park.
The type of road Ishasha possesses will determine this; on a good day, the drive takes about four hours.
But this road is more fulfilling since you could branch off to Ishasha and conduct a wildlife drive while scouting the Tree-climbing lions before you head to Bwindi.
From Kigali, gorilla treking in Uganda is also an option available today.
Spending one hour for border clearance, you fly in from Kigali International Airport, drive across Rwanda, cross the border, and head to Bwindi—a 4-hour trip.
Aerolink Company provides daily flights from Entebbe to Bwindi in Kihihi Airstrip, a 2-hour journey for those treking in Buhoma and Rushaga, for those who are not interested in driving the vast distances by road to Bwindi.
If you are planning to hike mountain gorillas of Nkuringo and Rushaga as well as Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, you could also travel to Kisoro Airstrip, a one-hour drive.
Popular Mountain Gorilla Families Trekking Cost for Uganda
Mountain Gorilla inside Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
There are eighteen habituated mountain gorilla families in Bwindi, Uganda; each family can be seen by up to eight visitors daily.
Martial arts figure prominently in many Asian cultures, and the first known traces.
Following are some of the most well-known mountain gorilla families from Uganda:
The Gorilla Family Nshongi
Rushegura Gorilla Family
Gorilla Family from Nkuringo
Gorilla Family of Habinyanja
The Gorilla Family from Mubare
Oruzogo Gorilla Families
Bitukura Gorilla Family:
The Mishaya Gorilla Family
Gorilla Family Busingye
Gorilla Family from Kahungye
Top Things to Do During Your Bwindi Tour
These are some of the best activities on your Bwindi gorilla trip.
Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi 2-Day Kigali to Bwindi Gorilla Tour
Four hiking areas—Buhoma, Nkuringo, Rushaga, and Ruhija—separate Bwindi Impenetrable National Park into suitable starting places for gorilla trekking.
Every area has habituated gorilla families open for trekking; so, any visitor seeking to visit Bwindi must be sure which region they are intending to visit.
This guides the path and helps one choose the motel for lodging.
Today, distributed among the four areas of Bwindi, there are roughly twenty-one habituated mountain gorilla groups accessible for trekking.
Half of all Mountain Gorillas in the world call Bwindi Impenetrable National Park home.
Daily gorilla trekking in Bwindi is limited to eight persons tracking a particular family of mountain gorillas.
Visitors need get permits, particularly in busy seasons since they usually sell out.
At $700, a Bwindi Gorilla Permit in this park is less than that of Rwanda, at $1500.
Only those above 15 years are permitted to hike mountain gorillas; good health is essential to track them since human diseases, particularly flu and cough, can be contracted from them.
Wake early depending on the distance from your lodging to the trekking area head offices, have breakfast, and drive there for briefing and assignment of a gorilla group on the day of treking Mountain gorillas.
First you will be amused; then the guide will go over the park’s policies, what to pack, and what to expect from your gorilla treking trip.
Waterproof hiking boots, a rain jacket, bug repellent, gloves, packed lunch, and ample drinking water are basics for Gorilla trekking.
At the start of your excursion, the park rangers give walking sticks.
Following your briefing, you are allocated a guide and go 2 to 8 hours into the bush for treking.
Once you locate the Mountain Gorillas, you will be let spend one whole hour observing them play, eat, and groom among each other.
You are free to remain silently at a distance of seven meters throughout which you can capture images and films free from shutter sound and flash light.
You will return to your starting point after your trekking and be given a certificate attesting to your trekking of mountain gorillas of Bwindi.
Birding in Bwindi, detailed 18-day Rwanda – Uganda itinerary
There are 350 bird species overall in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, both migratory and endemic species. Among Uganda’s top birding sites is this one.
Among the local birds are 24 Albertine rift endemics with 14 species absent elsewhere in the nation.
Popular for birdlife, the Neck region of Bwindi links the Ruhija gorilla sector with Buhoma.
Located in the southern part, Mubwindi Swamp is another great birding destination.
Among the most sought-after and most beautiful bird species available at Bwindi are Shelley’s red-wing, regal sunbird, and lovely francolin.
This is in addition to 200 butterfly species, 14 different snake species, 14 lizard species, and 11 of which are native to the Bwindi area among 27 amphibian species.
The park boasts very competent and informed bird guides who will make your birding experience outstanding.
Nature hikes compliments to your Nkuringo Gorilla Tours.
Depending on your preferences, many nature walk paths lead you into the forest.
Moving with an armed ranger guide, however, is always a necessary to interpret nature for you and guard you from animal attacks—especially from forest buffaloes and elephants.
Among the well-known paths in the park are the Muyanga River trail, which is well-known for bird watchers; the Nkuringo-Buhoma walking trail, which spans roughly six hours; and the Rushura hill trail that leads across to the Uganda – Congo border.
Batwa Local Community Event
Interactions in Culture
Batwa People:
Known as the “keepers of the forest,” the Batwa people were the main human occupants of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga, particularly prior to the advent of tourism and conservation.
These people survived in the jungle harvesting wild fruits and hunting wild meat.
These individuals were evicted from these two national parks in 1991 when Gorilla hiking and conservation commenced in Uganda.
The park management has created paths leading to their Stone caves, the ancient residences, therefore fostering love for conservation.
Here, the Pygmy guide shows among others how they survived in the forest—that is, how they made fire, hunted, and used medicinal plants.
Beginning at every area of Bwindi headquarters, this five-hour tourist adventure runs $20 and returns this money to these local communities.
Recall that twenty percent of the annual national park entrance fees are returned to these local communities in the form of health facilities and clean water to inspire them to embrace tourism and conservation.
When should you visit?
Is it safe visiting Bwindi National Park?
Uganda is continuously welcoming visitors on Bwindi safaris at any season.
Two seasons—the rainy and dry seasons—which happen annually should be taken into account while organizing a Uganda safari.
If you intend to visit Uganda for mountain gorilla trekking, game drives, mountaineering, chimpanzee tracking, or golden monkey tracking, the dry season is the most suited.
Starting December, January, or any of the shorter drier months, you can decide to go throughout the lengthy dry months of the year, which run from June, July, August up until September.
Every year, there are two main stages of wet/rainy seasons: the longest wet months run from March to May and the shortest rainy months start from October to November.
If you are a passionate birder on a trip through Uganda, these are the greatest times.
Know Before you Visit Rushaga Sector of Bwindi Gorilla Groups
While visiting Uganda for a holiday is exciting, you should be aware of a few things before you start to plan.
Whether you are a local or foreign visitor on Bwindi safaris, Uganda encourages everyone to appreciate its natural beauties.
Before you travel to the nation for your holiday, bear these ideas in mind.
When should one go to Uganda?
One can visit Uganda, the Pearl of Africa, whenever they choose in any month or year.
The dry season is the greatest time of year to visit and take in the offerings of this nation. This is the perfect time for gorilla trekking, mountaineering, or chimpanzee tracking since most of the nation records the least or none of rains during this month.
Where should I go?
Uganda is a dynamic country with very good tourist destinations.
Visitors of Uganda safaris experience additional tourist sites such waterfalls, water bodies, forest reserves, towns, mystical islands, to mention just a few in addition to visiting the national parks and reserves.
Visas, currencies, and health:
Make sure you cross-checked the validity of your visa before heading to Uganda.
Make sure your visa runs for at least six months before it expires.
Get your jabs and any required vaccinations: typhoid, COVID-19, cholera, hepatitis A and B, yellow fever jab.
Bring some anti-malaria pills also.
Have enough money on Bwindi safaris to cover your expenses in outlying locations. Uganda welcomes US dollars and pounds among other currencies.
Pack nicely:
When you have the appropriate tools or gear, a Bwindi gorilla safari is fun.
Make sure your visa, passport, gorilla permit, chimpanzee permit, suitable clothes, safari shoes, bug repellent, daypack, camera, and rain gear is current.
Language used:
English is the official and much used language in Uganda.
But keep in mind Uganda consists of over fifty distinct languages.
accommodation in the Impenetrable Forest of Bwindi
Mountains Gorilla Lodge: Clouds
Mountains Gorilla Lodge via Clouds
Near Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, there are rather many lodging establishments.
Sectionally, they are arranged; some of them are shown below.
Region of Buhoma:
Lodge by Mahogany Springs
Lodge Silverback
Duhoma Haven Lodge
The Lodge Bwindi
lodge Buhoma Lodge
Lodge at Sanctuary Gorilla Forest
Ruhija Area:
Bakiga Lodge
Broadbill Forest Camp Bwindi Agandi Lodge Nkuringo Region:
Mountains Gorilla Lodge in Clouds
Nkeringo Bwindi Lodge
Gorilla Heights Lodge
Lodge for Lake Mulehe Gorilla
Safari Lodge on Lake Mulehe
Region: Rushaga:
Camp for Rushaga Gorilla
Lodge for Ichumbi Gorillas
Gorilla Valley Lodge
Hotel Rushaga Gorilla Havens Lodge
